‘Birds of Prey’ a rollercoaster ride of colorful action-packed adventure

Director Cathy Yan collaborates with writer Christina Hodson on action-packed adventure superhero feature “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn)”. This is a psychotic catharsis on a rollercoaster of glitter and violent fun. Margot Robbie stars as the kooky Harley Quinn and is accompanied by a notable female cast including Rosie Perez, Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and newcomer Cassandra Cain. (KIZJ: 4/5)

“Harley Quinn” (Margot Robbie) is a smart woman with a Phd who worked at a mental asylum and fell in love with her patient, the Joker. After breaking free they began their chaotic life as the power duo that all of Gotham City fears to offend. A quirky and compact animation and first-person narration brings the audience up to speed on all the important moments that brought Harley to her current predicament.

Forewind to the present, Harley is broken and distraught about her break up with the Joker, but has so far kept it a secret from everyone. Why? Because the association with the Joker allows her to do anything she wants. This includes casually breaking the legs of “Roman Sionis’” (Ewan McGregor) driver, who belittled her with a sense of masculine superiority whilst she was dancing away her woes in a club. To put into perspective how dangerous this could have been, Roman is someone who can easily order his men to hang people who offend him upside down and slice the skin of their faces off.

Continuing her wallowing-turned-aggression, Harley comes to a spot where she sees the chemical plant in the distance–the place where it all began between her and the Joker. She sees a tank truck nearby and lets loose a big grin: this was an opportunity to create an immense explosion. Without much thought, she drives it towards the plant, pulls off the necklace that symbolizes her love, and hops off just in time to see it explode into a colorful firework display. Harley turns her back and walks away with a sense of pride and catharsis, which only lasts moments because she forgot about the horrific implications of her actions. This was an indicator to every single person she has ever offended in Gotham City that she was free to be hunted and punished. 

At this point Harley halts the story and rewinds to show in more detail what was happening around the city moments before her mass destruction. Here the audience is introduced to “Renee Montoya” (Rosie Perez) who is a hard working detective from the Gotham City Police Department whose work is often overlooked by male superiors. Also sitting in the police station is “Cassandra Cain” (Ellen Jay Basco), a young pickpocket who has been caught yet again. Singing in a club across town is “Black Canary” (Jurnee Smollett-Bell)—Sionis’ songbird. In another part, we see “The Huntress” (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and learn that she is a trained assassin. A priceless jewel goes missing, and this gradually intertwines all these women’s lives.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) doesn’t follow the usual presentation of an adventure story arc and I actually find myself appreciating it more and more as I think back on it. Although it had its predictable moments, Director Cathy Yan and Writer Christina Hodson work together to ensure the audience never knows quite what the execution would be like–and that certainly kept me on my toes. That and of course the impressive action sequences that left me wide-eyed and open-mouthed.

Margot Robbie is absolutely “fantabulous” and entirely convincing as this Phd ex-psychiatrist from the mental asylum. The way she embodies this crazy role is incredibly entertaining to watch, and the boldness is refreshing. The young Ellen Jay Basco impresses with her natural performance as she experiences the psychotic ride of Harley Quinn together with the audience. I am so glad to see Rosie Perez in the role of Renee Montoya, and she appropriately combines professionalism and sass, which can also be said for Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, on the other hand, brings a lot of genuine laughter as The Huntress, which is not something you expect at first, but is definitely a pleasant surprise. Admittedly I was surprised about the casting of Ali Wong in such a serious role in a film that was so playful—she would have been able to rock a wacky character—maybe next time?

Erin Benach helps visually interpret each character through costume design and deserves a special mention. As someone who is a big fan of the use of design, color, and stylistic choices, my eyes feasted on the details of each scene. From the graphics, to the choice of weaponry, and the artistic choices made when telling backstory.

There were a few moments when I felt distant from the actors; the pauses and spaces between them left me feeling empty and quietly reminded me that I was watching acting. But there were also poignant moments  where we get to see behind Harley’s loud self and into her ticking mind. On a side note, I would have enjoyed seeing more emotional development from the supporting characters.

This is fun, this is different, and for me, this is one for the ladies who have too often been given arm candy roles in such big movies. The entire film was very satisfying to watch as I enjoyed every blunt comeback and feminist reference on how women get underestimated and wronged. Except this time the women can fight back quite literally and be both their own and each other’s heroines.

© Katusha Jin (2/08/2020) FF2 Media
Top Photo: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) Poster

Middle Photo: Harley Quinn attacks policemen at the Gotham Police Station

Bottom Photo: “Harley Quinn” (Margot Robbit) and “Cassandra Cain” (Ellen Jay Basco) eating cereal and watching television in Harley’s living room.

Photo Credits: Claudette Barius

Does Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) pass the Bechdel-Wallace test?

Yes! There are so many women in this who talk about plenty of things from stuffed animals to mentorship.

Katusha Jin

By Katusha Jin

As part of the FF2 Media team, Katusha Jin interviews filmmakers, write features and reviews, and coaches other associates. She grew up in the UK and studied briefly in Russia and China before moving to New York for college. Graduating magna cum laude from New York University, Katusha majored in Film and Television at Tisch School of the Arts with minors in Business and Philosophy. She has worked as a producer, director, writer, and composer for various award-winning projects including short films, branded content, independent features, and music videos.

801 comments

  3. Pingback: 3insects

  20. адлер бриджит резорт сан магадан сочи
    санаторий эллада фото пансионат все включено крым отели ялты на берегу моря с бассейном
    курорт увильды челябинская область гостиницы тучково санатории самары

    Reply

  22. ярославль гостиница спорт казань чистопольская 61
    в николаевке отели геленджик на берегу моря с бассейном санаторий имени анджиевского в ессентуках официальный сайт
    что такое санатории комплекс нептун azimut hotel tulskaya moscow

    Reply

  23. орбита краснодарский край официальный сайт парк отель песочная бухта отзывы
    хостел невский санкт петербург лазурный берег кабардинка отдых в межводном крым
    красноармейская 176 ивушка лоо отель green hosta

    Reply

  24. вилла натали керчь хостел в белокурихе
    отель звенигородский викинг отель выборг мастер отель домодедово
    арт отель зонтик санкт петербург слобода отель томск санаторий управления делами президента белоруссии

    Reply

  25. гостиница покровск энгельс сергиев посад дом отдыха
    отель спектр на таганской москва санаторий с опорно двигательным лечением алексин сосновый бор
    мрия телефон санатории крыма на новый год санаторий родник пятигорск сайт

    Reply

  27. гостиницы в геленджике все включено отзывы об отелях в сочи
    отель в ярославле недорого на сутки бронирование гостиниц владимир хоста кристалл
    таврия санаторий евпатория детский лагерь циолковский самара отель бридж резорт в сочи

    Reply

  28. бассейн металлург сочи лагерь дружба крым
    железноводск санаторий минеральные воды отель орда улан удэ санаторий в судаке
    ялта отели и гостиницы цены 2022 гостиницы в адлере недорого с питанием отель богатырь

    Reply

  29. парк олимп геленджик как добраться букинг ком анапа
    балтийский берег турфирма санкт петербург цена отелей в крыму беларусь санаторий сочи официальный сайт
    санатории смоленской области цены на 2021 год сааки дом отдыха солнечный московская область

    Reply

  30. санаторий свежесть сызрань цены 2021 год гостиница космос в москве адрес
    санаторий парус дагестан заки валиди 58 саки санаторий пирогова цены на 2021 год
    отель милан на домодедовской здравалтай лайт дрим хостел

    Reply

  31. хостел страна чудес на невском багрипш на карте
    лучшие дома отдыха с детьми в подмосковье поселок эльбрус гостиницы пансионаты валдая
    пансионат крымское приазовье отзывы отели в гаграх абхазия цены 2021 аква абаза туроператор официальный

    Reply

  32. гостиница чайковский сочи довиль анапа телефон
    управление дорожной полиции пятизвездочные отели в казани жемчужная ванна в домашних условиях
    горный воздух отзывы санаторий аквалоо г сочи санатории рузского района

    Reply

  33. янгантау санаторий фото крым феодосия отдых
    туапсе санаторий зеленый гай санаторий бобачевская роща тверь цены деламапа отель анапа
    мисхор санаторий отзывы санаторий сибирь в белокурихе официальный сайт белый пляж анапа

    Reply

  34. гостиница байкал сервис северобайкальск дачный отель пайн ривер
    эко курорт марьин остров горный алтай отель марисоль приморско ахтарск гостиницы большой камень приморский край цены
    судак гостиница бишофит для ванн отзывы крым санаторий ай даниль цены фото

    Reply
  98. Pingback: 3imprison

  112. As this requires a short office procedure, there are risks including bleeding, infection, and pellet extrusion in less than 1 of cases buy propecia uk Given the prevalence and morbidity of postpartum hypertension and the lack of research focusing on how to manage postpartum hypertension, it is critical to identify strategies to improve postpartum BP which will, in turn, decrease maternal morbidity and hospital readmissions

    Reply

  141. Быстромонтируемые здания – это прогрессивные конструкции, которые различаются большой быстротой возведения и гибкостью. Они представляют собой сооружения, состоящие из заранее сделанных составляющих или узлов, которые имеют возможность быть скоро установлены в участке развития.
    Расчет ангара из металлоконструкций калькулятор отличаются гибкостью и адаптируемостью, что разрешает просто преобразовывать а также модифицировать их в соответствии с потребностями покупателя. Это экономически лучшее а также экологически долговечное решение, которое в крайние лета заполучило широкое распространение.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *